This vacancy is for a GS-0950-9/11, Paralegal Specialist located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, D8 LEGAL STAFF -DL in New Orleans, Louisiana.
To qualify at the GS-09 grade level, applicants must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level in the federal sector. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work. NOTE: All experience statements (i.e., duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire) copied from this announcement and pasted into your resume will not be considered as a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. Specialized experience must include the following: Drafting legal memoranda or research documents; compiling and evaluating statistical data Conducting legal research into various sources of the law, including agency directives, prior appeal decisions, federal regulations, statutory materials, and federal court opinions. Assisting in the preparation of attorney advice; assisting with the drafting of legal opinions, decisions, and letters. Providing guidance in the area of agency policy, regulatory modification, and legal interpretation. OR Master's or equivalent graduate degree OR 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.B. or J.D., if related OR A combination of specialized experience and education. To qualify at the GS-11 grade level, applicants must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the federal sector. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work. Specialized experience: Drafting legal memoranda on various questions so researched. Digests and indexes legal material such as decisions, opinions, administrative rulings, legal references and analyses of precedent involved; Conducts research for the purpose of tracing and establishing legislative histories of bills and reviews proposed legislation, as appropriate; Performs extensive and thorough legal research into the legislative history, precedent cases, decisions, and opinions that may be applicable to particular legal matters; performs evaluation, investigation, and resolution of cases, ensuring they are processed in accordance with directives, regulations, policies, and case law and conform to established case-processing procedures OR (A) a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; OR (B) 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.M., if related. OR (C) A combination of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in or related to the work of this position AND education graduate level education that provided the specific knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position and experience. Experience and education combinations are computed by first determining the total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level; then determining the total of qualifying education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level; and then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at that grade level. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work. NOTE: Education can be substituted for experience at this grade level. National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Office of Personnel management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule, C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
You will serve as a Paralegal Specialist and be responsible for the legal, administrative, and clerical support required by the Eighth District legal staff. Performs legal, administrative, and clerical assignments on Uniform Code of Military Justice, Freedom of Information Act, Standards of Conduct, administrative and criminal investigations, military personnel actions, claims, real property, law enforcement, navigation determinations, marine safety and port security as directed by the Staff Judge Advocate/ District Legal Officer. Being a Coast Guard civilian makes you a valuable member of the Coast Guard team. Typical work assignments include: Providing paralegal services within the guidelines established by the Chief Counsel and the bounds of the state law/bar ethical restrictions. Assisting in FOIA administration, including reviewing responsive documents, reviewing responsive documents for release ability, redacting portions of withheld documents, and drafting associated memoranda and correspondence with requesters. Aiding legal staff with review of cases involving misconduct and crimes under the Uniform Code of Military Justice including legal research; advising on and reviewing investigations; obtaining a courtroom; hiring a court reporter; the issuance of subpoenas; travel and lodging arrangements for the judge, counsel, court-members, and witnesses. Researching and assisting attorneys in drafting legal advice regarding ethics opinions, including gift acceptances, outside employment, and post-government employment. Maintaining the following: general correspondence, reader, and day files; investigative files; claims and penalty files; trial courts-martial records; non-judicial punishment files.